Winemaker and Vineyard: The wines of La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou come from the vineyard of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. This exceptional Médoc cru is spread between the river to the East and the centre and West of the AOC Saint-Julien area. The estate owes its name to its "beautiful pebbles", which, due to their quartz predominance, give lean soils. It is precisely this "agrological" poverty, as Professor René Pijassou wrote, that gives them great value for wine production. To the East, the plots occupy Médoc ridges just above the estuary, while those in the epicentre benefit from a microclimate engendered by the small stream of La Mouline, which crosses the appellation in the middle, from west to east, to flow into the Gironde.

Tasting: "This is not a second wine per se, as it consistently comes from a separate vineyard in Saint-Julien. The blend is usually around 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, but this year it has a high percentage of Merlot: 58%, with 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Croix de Beaucaillou has quite a spicy nose sporting cloves, anise, black pepper and fenugreek with a core of crushed blackberries and black currants plus wafts of underbrush and potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness supporting the vivacious fruit, finishing long and earthy." robertparker.com (27.04.2018)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany a roast pigeon with thyme.